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ITF Chief Defends Davis Cup Format As Bologna Finals Miss Top Stars

David Haggerty says claims of a star snub are a false perception.

Overview

  • Italy’s Jannik Sinner and Lorenzo Musetti did not play in Bologna, with Sinner opting for rest and Musetti citing physical reasons and an imminent birth.
  • Carlos Alcaraz withdrew for Spain after a hamstring injury sustained at the ATP Finals.
  • Former players Sam Querrey and John Isner called the format broken and floated a biennial schedule to boost participation.
  • Tournament director Feliciano Lopez pointed to a congested calendar affecting player availability across the tour, including Masters 1000 events.
  • Alexander Zverev was the only top‑10 entrant in the Final 8, as the ITF highlighted earlier-round star participation and said it remains open to future tweaks such as this year’s added home‑and‑away round.